Just keep in mind that it takes 5 calendar years to get that 4 year degree. So after that 5th calendar year, things tend to "work out in the wash". There is one thing that I like to stress though for those that will be starting their senior year in the current (2018) tax year. That is, pay all qualified expenses for that senior year before the end of the first semester. That allows the biggest bang for the buck on the education credits.
For example, you can only take the AOC for four calendar years. So if you pay only the first semester of the senior year and claim the AOC, you're done. Since the 2nd semester starts in January of the 5th calendar year, if you wait until then to pay the 2nd semester for the senior year, you can't take the AOC if you already took it the first 4 calendar years. So you lose out.
